Dr John Francis

Dr John Francis dressed in sports attire smiling at camera

Course Leader for MSc Sport (Applied Performance Analysis) and Senior Lecturer in Performance Analysis

School of Sport and Exercise Science

Academics

Contact Details

email: j.francis@worc.ac.uk
tel: 01905 855590

John Francis returned to the University of Worcester in 2018 as a Lecturer in Performance Analysis. He has an array of applied and research experience in performance analysis with elite able-bodied and disabled sports teams. John has provided support to a variety of teams during six European Championships, three World Championships, one World Cup and a Paralympic Games. His research has involved working closely with the British Wheelchair Basketball squads, where his findings helped the male and female performance squads secure a bronze medal and a fourth place finish at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games. More recently, he has begun exploring how coaches, athletes and support staff perceive the use of performance analysis to help improve the delivery of the sport science discipline. John uses all these different experiences and skills to help engage students in the field and develop future performance analysts.

Qualifications:

  • PhD in Performance Analysis, University of Worcester (2019)
  • PGCert Research Methods, University of Worcester (2016)
  • PGCert Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, University of Worcester (2016)
  • MSc Sports Coaching, University of Worcester (2014)
  • BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching Science, University of Worcester (2012)
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Teaching & Research

Teaching Interests:

  • Performance Analysis
  • Sports Coaching Science
  • Disability Sport

Research Interests:

  • Performance Analysis (Performance Profiling and Prediction)
  • Performance Analysis (Coaches' and Players' Perceptions)
  • Sports Coaching Science
  • Disability Sport

Professional Bodies

  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
  • International Society of Performance Analysis in Sport Applied Level Four Analyst
  • British Association of Sport and Exercise Science - Graduate

Publications

Journal Articles:

Francis, J., Owen, A. and Peters, D. M. (2019) ‘A New Reliable Performance Analysis Template for Quantifying Action Variables in Elite Men’s Wheelchair Basketball’, Frontiers in Psychology, 10, pp. 1–16. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00016.

Francis, J. W., Owen, A. and Peters, D. M. (2019) ‘Making every “point” count: Identifying the key determinants of team success in elite men’s wheelchair basketball’, Frontiers in Psychology, 10, pp. 1-16. doi: 10.3389/FPSYG.2019.01431.

Francis, J. and Jones, G. (2014) Elite Rugby Union Players Perceptions of Performance Analysis. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 14 (1). pp. 188-207.

Book Section:

Francis, J. and Jones, G. (2013) The Effect of Game Location on Positional Profiles of a Professional Rugby Union Team During a Competitive Season. In: Performance Analysis of Sport IX. Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon, pp. 107-113.

Conferences or Workshop Items:

Francis, J. (2019) ‘Engaging Masters Students Through Blackboard Collaborate’, in ‘TEL’ Me More Showcase. Worcester: University of Worcester.

De Martin Silva, L. and Francis, J. (2019) ‘Deaf international futsal players’ learning experiences in preparation for a major competition: a longitudinal study’, in UK Coaching Applied Coaching Research Conference 2019: Shaping the Future of Coaching. Derby.

Francis, J., Molnar, G., Owen, A. and Peters, D.M. (2017) The Performance Analysis Process in Elite Wheelchair Basketball is "Worthless Without Trust". In: ICCE Global Coaching Conference 2017, 31st July-2nd August 2017, Liverpool John Moores University.

Francis, J. (2017) Did British Wheelchair Basketball Listen To The Numbers in Rio? In: Institute of Sport and Exercise Science Research Seminar, 19th May 2017, University of Worcester.

Francis, J., Owen, A., Molnar, G. and Peters, D.M. (2017) Modelling Shooting Performance Across Major International Tournaments in Elite Mens Wheelchair Basketball. In: Vista 2017: Opportunities, Challenges in Paralympic Sport Science & Sport Medicine Support, 20-23 September 2017, Toronto, Canada.

Francis, J., Molnar, G., Owen, A. and Peters, D.M. (2017) Key Determinants of Team Success in Elite Mens Wheelchair Basketball. In: UK Paralympic Performance Conference 2017, 29th-30th March 2017, St George's Park, Burton upon Trent.

Francis, J., Owen, A., Molnar, G. and Peters, D.M. (2016) Modelling Shooting Performance in Elite Mens Wheelchair Basketball. In: BASES 2016 Conference, 29-30 November 2016, East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham.

Francis, J., Molnar, G., Donovan, M. and Peters, D.M. (2015) Development of a Valid and Reliable Performance Analysis Template for Assessing Team Performance in Elite Men's Wheelchair Basketball. In: BASES Conference 2015, 1-2 December 2015, St. Georges Park, Burton upon Trent.

Francis, J., Molnar, G., Donovan, M. and Peters, D.M. (2015) Trust Within a High Performance Sport: A Performance Analysts Perspective. In: BASES Conference 2015, 1-2 December 2015, St. Georges Park, Burton upon Trent.

Nagata, A. and Francis, J. (2014) Propulsion in Wheelchair Basketball. In: Optimal Management of the Paralympic Shoulder, English Institute of Sport, 23rd October 2014, Quorn Grange Hotel, Loughborough.

Garrett, C., Beeching, K. and Francis, J. (2013) Analysis of Team Performance During the 2011 English County Cricket Clydesdale Bank 40 Competition. In: 4th International Society of Performance Analysis in Sport Performance Analysis Workshop, 2nd - 5th April 2013, University of Alicante, Spain.

Beeching, K., Williams, S. and Francis, J. (2013) The Effect of Pitch Size on Technical Demands in Small Sided Possession Games in Amateur Footballers. In: 4th International Society of Performance Analysis in Sport Performance Analysis Workshop, 2nd - 5th April 2013, University of Alicante, Spain.

Francis, J., Beeching, K. and Jones, G. (2013) Try Scoring in the RFU Championship. In: 4th International Society of Performance Analysis in Sport Performance Analysis Workshop, 2nd - 5th April 2013, University of Alicante, Spain.

Francis, J. (2012) Performance Analysis Workshop. In: Careers in Sport, 25th October 2012, University of Worcester.

Francis, J. (2012) Performance Analysis Workshop. In: Worcestershire County Cricket Coaches Development Day, 20th October 2012, University of Worcester.

Francis, J. (2012) Introduction to Performance Analysis. In: The 2012 Herefordshire and Worcestershire Coaching Summit: From Grassroots to Greatness: The coach, the athlete, the legacy, 22nd April 2012, University of Worcester.

Francis, J. and Jones, G. (2012) The Effect of Game Location on Positional Profiles During a Competitive Season in Professional Rugby Union: Implications for the Coaching Process. In: World Congress of Performance Analysis of Sport IX, 25th - 28th July 2012, University of Worcester.

 

External Responsibilities

  • Reviewer for Graduate Journal of Sport, Exercise and Physical Education Research
  • Reviewer for Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health
  • Reviewer for Frontiers in Psychology
  • Reviewer for Human Movement